Men's Basketball | 2/10/2021 9:40:00 PM

 
Morris Udeze said the Shockers talked about UCF's defensive approach on Wednesday morning. The Knights were unlikely to allow Tyson Etienne to score 29 points again and Wichita State prepared for an all-out denial on their leading scorer.
 
"We just had to make the game easier on him," Udeze said. "At practice today, we covered that we knew they were going to double him."
 
While nothing came easy for Etienne, the other Shockers did indeed help him out in Wichita State's 61-60 win over UCF in Orlando on Wednesday. Wichita State survived a last-second shot from UCF's Darius Perry, too strong off the back of the rim, with big games from guard Alterique Gilbert and forward Dexter Dennis.
 
"We've had a lot of games like this," Dennis said. "We find ways to win."
 
Wednesday leaned more toward the unlikely than most. Etienne scored five points, 13 below his season average. Gilbert came off the bench because a migraine headache caused him to miss practice this week and put his availability in doubt.
 
Interim coach Isaac Brown wasn't sure if Gilbert would play, or how long if he did.
 
"He sucked it up," Brown said. "He came off the bench with a great attitude. Alterique handled it the right way."
 
While the Knights swarmed Etienne, he took Brown's advice to stay patient and pass to get the ball moving and find open teammates. He didn't force shots or commit a turnover. 
 
"I always tell him just keep sharing the ball," Brown said. 
 
Etienne's composure gave Gilbert a chance to make crucial three-pointer with 33 seconds to play on his way to 17 points and 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range.
 
"We knew somebody else had to step up and make shots," Gilbert said. 
 
Coming off the bench for the second time this season and the first in conference play did not throw him off his game. He used those early minutes to evaluate how the defense handled Wichita State's ball-screens, gauge the referees and the pace of play.
 
"It gives me time to read the game," he said. "That's what I try to do when I come off the bench."
 
Gilbert made 6 of 10 shots in 26 minutes and closed the game for the Shockers (12-4, 8-2 American Athletic Conference). In addition to his three from the wing – after Etienne escaped pressure to get the ball moving on its way to Gilbert – he made two foul shots with 13 seconds to play. 
 
Then he defended Perry, who scored 27 points, on the game's final shot. Brown didn't want to double-team and emphasized that the Shockers not foul. Solid defense and force the Knights to make a guarded shot.
 
"I knew he was going to take the last shot," Gilbert said "I contested the shot the best I could."
 
Dennis recorded Wichita State's first double-double this season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. UCF (5-10, 3-9) added to Wichita State's rebounding issues by grabbing 14 offensive rebounds and scoring 18 second-chance points.
 
Dennis did his part by chasing down several long rebounds and jumping into crowds for others. When he rebounds hard, he said, other parts of his game go better." 
 
"I think I just have to be more aggressive," he said. "Tracking the ball down. Just feeling the ball a little bit. The more I'm aggressive on the offensive glass, the more it will help my game."

Wichita State won its fourth straight game and its third conference road game.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.